Stokesia Plant Named &#39;SYNSTOKHAR&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Stokesia  plant named ‘Synstokhar’, characterized by its upright to low spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; freely branching growth habit; relatively short flowering stems; freely flowering habit; large inflorescences with pale violet-colored ray florets; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Stokesia laevis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SYNSTOKHAR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Stokesia plant, botanically known as Stokesia laevis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Synstokhar’.

The new Stokesia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new hardy and easy to produce Stokesia plants with a freely branching habit, relatively short flowering stems and numerous large inflorescences.

The new Stokesia plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2007 in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Stokesia laevis identified as code number MM0959, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Stokesia laevis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Stokesia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled nursery environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Stokesia plant by vegetative basal cuttings was first conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in March, 2009. Asexual reproduction by cuttings has shown that the unique features of this new Stokesia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Stokesia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Synstokhar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Synstokhar’ as a new and distinct Stokesia plant:

-   -   1. Upright to low spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching growth habit.     -   4. Relatively short flowering stems.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large inflorescences with pale violet-colored ray florets.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Stokesia differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Stokesia are shorter and not as broad as         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Stokesia are pale violet in         color whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent         selection are pale blue in color.

Plants of the new Stokesia can be compared to plants of Stokesia laevis ‘Purple Pixie’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,833. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Stokesia differed from plants of ‘Purple Pixie’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Stokesia were shorter and broader than         plants of ‘Purple Pixie’.     -   2. Plants of the new Stokesia were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Purple Pixie’.     -   3. Plants of the new Stokesia had larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Purple Pixie’.     -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Stokesia were lighter violet         in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Purple Pixie’.

Plants of the new Stokesia can also be compared to plants of Stokesia laevis ‘Mels Blue’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,090. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Stokesia differed from plants of ‘Mels Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Stokesia were much shorter than and not as         broad as plants of ‘Mels Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Stokesia had larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Mels Blue’.     -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Stokesia were lighter violet         in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Mels Blue’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Stokesia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Stokesia plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Synstokhar’ grown in an outdoor nursery. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Synstokhar’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring, summer and autumn in 7.5-liter containers and in ground beds in an outdoor nursery in Bressingham, United Kingdom and under cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial Stokesia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from −6° C. to 12° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2000 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Stokesia laevis ‘Synstokhar’ -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Stokesia             laevis identified as code number MM0959, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Stokesia             laevis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Vegetative basal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at soil             temperatures about 15° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 20 days             at soil temperatures about 15° C.         -   Root description.—Medium to fine in thickness, mostly             fibrous; typically close to 158C in color, actual color of             the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water             quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to low             spreading plant habit; broad inverted triangle; strong and             freely branching habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant width or spread.—About 40 cm.         -   Flowering stems (peduncles).—Length: About 4 cm. Diameter:             About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm. Aspect: Mostly             upright Strength: Strong. Texture: Sparsely pubescent.             Luster: Dull. Color: Close to 138B to 138C becoming closer             to 124D with development. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 15 cm to 20 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Semi-glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A; venation,             close to 138B; in the autumn, occasionally lightly flushed             with close to 178B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Close to 138B; venation, 138B; color does not change in the             autumn.         -   Petioles.—Present on basal leaves only. Length: About 1 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 138B. Color,             lower surface: Close to 138C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type and arrangement.—Composite inflorescence form with             Obcordate-shaped ray florets; inflorescences borne on             terminal and axillary branches above and beyond the foliar             plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally on a             capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower             from July to September in the United Kingdom; plants begin             flowering about 135 days after planting.         -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about 35 days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with             about twelve inflorescences per lateral branch and about 175             inflorescences developing per plant during the flowering             season.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 3 cm. Diameter: About             3 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture: Rough. Luster: Matte. Color:             Close to 138C.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Relatively large, about 7 cm.             Depth (height): About 2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 5 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Shape: Flattened tubular with three free apices. Color:             Close to 91B; towards the base, close to 158D.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 60 ray florets             per inflorescence arranged in about two to three whorls.             Orientation: Initially upright, then almost perpendicular to             peduncle. Length: About 4.5 cm to 5 cm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Cleft. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper surface: Slightly             glossy, satiny. Luster, lower surface: Matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 91B; towards the base,             close to 158D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 91C;             towards the base, close to 15 8D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 91C; towards the base, close to 158D;             venation, close to 91B; color does not change with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 91C;             towards the base, close to 158D; venation, close to 91C;             color becoming closer to 91D with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 160 massed at             the center of the inflorescence. Orientation: Spirally.             Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular with             three free apices. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth; slightly velvety. Luster,             upper surface: Slightly glossy. Luster, lower surface:             Matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 91B;             towards the base, close to 158D. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 91D; towards the base, close to 158D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 91B; towards the base,             close to 158D; venation, close to 91C; color becoming closer             to 91C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 91D; towards the base, close to 158D; venation, close to             91C; color does not change with development.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 25 per             inflorescence arranged in several whorls. Length: About             1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Base: Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper surface: Slightly             glossy. Luster, lower surface: Matte. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to 138D. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 138C. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 138C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity of stamens per floret: Numerous. Filament             length: About 3 cm. Filament color: Close to 158B. Anther             shape: Lanceolate. Anther size: About 6 mm by 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 158B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:             Close to 158A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc florets.             Quantity of pistils per floret: One. Pistil length: About             3 cm. Stigma diameter: About 3 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.             Stigma color: Close to 158B. Style length: About 1 cm. Style             color: Close to 158A. Ovary color: Close to 158B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Stokesia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Stokesia have been     observed to have good resistance to Leaf Spot. Plants of the new     Stokesia have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other     pathogens common to Stokesia plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Stokesia have been observed to     be tolerant to rain, wind, to tolerate temperatures ranging from     about −15° C. to about 25° C., and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Stokesia plant named ‘Synstokhar’ as illustrated and described. 